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Why should I enroll in a criminal justice degree program?
Criminal justice is a major practitioner and academic field
within the United States and internationally. Individuals
intent on becoming essential criminal justice professionals in
the public or private sectors veteran personnel seeking
advancement are increasingly required to earn higher education
degrees to more effectively address complex issues within our
evolving society.
At the local and state levels, students may prepare
themselves for traditional patrol and investigative work in
police agencies or for more specialized careers in public
administration,
private security,
or research (VT).
At the federal level, there are over 30 different agencies
that regularly employ criminal justice majors such as the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Marshals Service, and the
Secret Service.
The spectrum of criminal justice is, however, much more than
the law enforcement or corrections officer or the courtroom
judge and attorneys. The boundaries have expanded beyond
traditional roles to reflect an increasingly global
community. Contemporary approaches recognizing the scale and
intricacies of criminal justice issues beyond the criminal
offender are vital. These involve understanding
organizational management and political dynamics as well as
the experiences of the victim and the community, and viable
methods to repair the harm, reduce fear, and rebuild safe
communities to achieve justice in spirit and act.
We seek to comprehend why some responses to crime are
effective while others are not. Doing so requires
collaborating with other disciplines – business,
information technology,
law, political science, psychology and sociology – to
implement innovative, effective responses to public safety
issues and the fundamental control and reduction of crime by
means that are both effective and ethical.
Students enrolled in our criminal justice degree programs are
well positioned to pursue professional opportunities in the
field as well as gain knowledge and skills that serve them
well in other professions (e.g., administration,
education,
politics, and research). The criminal justice degree programs
at the College of St. Joseph meet or exceed the standards for
the field, including states with education-based career
incentive pay programs. Our criminal justice programs provide
students with a strong foundation for graduate study (e.g.,
criminology, jurisprudence,
public
administration)
as well as the essential comprehension and proficiency to be
effective in various practitioner settings (e.g., juvenile
justice, policing, security, prevention, corrections).
What tracks are offered?
There are currently two program concentration tracks for
students to consider. Each requires the fulfillment of at
least 27 General Education and at least 30 course credits in
the major for the Associate degree and at least 45 General
Education and 51 Criminal Justice course credits for the
Bachelor of Science degree.
I. General
Administration
II.
Corrections
What are some internship options?
Rutland is one of Vermont's most opportune areas for
professional development with a variety of criminal
justice-related agencies in the county. These include
district court, county sheriff and city police departments,
probation and parole, correctional facilities, recruit and
in-service police and corrections training academies,
diversion court and restorative justice programs. There
are opportunities for CJ students to engage in meaningful
internships throughout the VT-NY-NH region.
The Division of Criminal Justice also offers students
interested in pursuing advanced studies the opportunity to
gain valuable experience through
research internships
with faculty.
Is
the program well accredited?
The College of St. Joseph and its programs are accredited by
the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
What considerations are given to experienced practitioners
pursuing a degree?
Accepted students who have significant and meaningful
learning experience outside the normal scope of
college/university instruction may petition the College
[through the
Harvest Program option] for appropriate undergraduate credit. Applicants
must have at least 18 consecutive months of full-time
employment within a relevant professional organization/agency.
What are the admission requirements?
The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice is
structured as a 127 credit degree program. The first stage of
academic preparation may consist of an AS degree with the
option for direct admission into the baccalaureate program.
Minimally, students applying for admission to the Bachelor of
Science degree must have 60 college-level credits from a
regionally accredited institution with 45 credits applicable
to the program curriculum, including ENG 101 (or its
equivalent) and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or
better.
Are online
courses available?
Yes, several
criminal justice program courses are offered online (e.g.,
Introduction to Criminal Justice; Corrections, Policing,
Juvenile Justice, Victimology, Criminal Law, Criminology, and
Ethics).
Will classes be offered both day and evening? Summer, too?
Yes.
Is
financial aid available?
Yes. There are several options available through the
financial aid office for qualifying students. |
